Another late strike leaves Liverpool down and out

Liverpool 1

Fiorentina2

LIVERPOOL’S miserable Champions League campaign ended in defeat to Fiorentina last night.

The visitors grabbed a late winner through Alberto Gilardino in the second minute of added time to clinch top spot in Group E.

Looking at the positives, Liverpool started with Alberto Aquilani at last – and Fernando Torres returned from a groin injury for the final 25 minutes.

Yossi Benayoun’s first-half header gave Liverpool hope but defensive uncertainty gave Martin Jorgensen the chance to drive home the equaliser in the second period.

Fiorentina, aware that Lyon were hammering Debrecen, realised they needed to win to make sure of top spot in the group, and they piled on the pressure.

It paid off and Liverpool were to suffer yet another late goal disaster.

It had happened in both games against Lyon, and now Fiorentina struck to steal their win in injury time.

Substitute Juan Vargas set up Gilardino for a fierce finish that sent the Fiorentina fans wild, and the club’s coaching staff into delirious jigs of delight.

The game, sometimes with almost a testimonial feel about it, meandered on towards the break before Liverpool found themselves ahead after 43 minutes.

Manuel Pasqual’s foul on Steven Gerrard gave the Liverpool captain the chance to lift a free-kick towards the near post for Yossi Benayoun to flick a header back into the far corner.

Liverpool dominated the early stages after the break, but were punished when Fiorentina captain Martin Jorgensen drove home the equaliser after 63 minutes.

The Italian outfit were now searching for the crucial winner that would win the group. It arrived in added time and left Liverpool with their worst-ever Champions League group points tally.